LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team welcomes in-state rival New Mexico for the second installment of the Battle of I-25 on Tuesday, May 1, at 6:05 p.m. MT on Presley Askew Field.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
NM State: Justin Dehn, RHP (3-3, 5.74 ERA)
UNM: James Harrington, RHP (0-3, 12.41 ERA)
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State baseball team all season on Twitter, and Instagram by following @NMStateBaseball and on Facebook.com/NMSUAthletics.
 
WHERE TO WATCH!
Aggie fans looking to watch the game can catch the action on FOX Sports Arizona PLUS, FOX College Sports Pacific, Altitude Sports or Comcast New Mexico. The game can also be stream on ESPN+. Adam Young is set to be on the call for the midweek rivalry clash.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can also follow the game in real time with live stats on StatBroadcast.
 
LOOKING AT THE LOBOS
Heading into the midweek clash, New Mexico holds a 15-27-1 overall record. The Lobos have lost five of their last six games, including three losses in a row by just one run in each contest.
 
In 26 of the last 27 seasons, UNM has posted a team batting average above .300 but currently sit at .263 through 43 games this year. At the plate, the Lobos are led by Hayden Schilling who has appeared in 39 games while starting in 37 and posts a .312 average. Jared Mang adds a team-high eight homers and .549 slugging percentage.
 
On the mound, the UNM staff has a 6.40 ERA and has allowed 140 extra-base hits, including 32 home runs. Opponents have posted a .306 batting average against a Lobo rotation that has only thrown one shutout this season.
 
IN THE NATION
Eleven weeks into the 2018 season the NM State baseball team currently ranks in the top-10 in eight different categories across the NCAA:
 
NM State (Rk)                 Category                           NCAA
.328 (2nd)                        Batting Avg.                     .356
9.0 (2nd)                          Scoring                             11.0
.432 (2nd)                        OB%                                  .451
395 (2nd)                         Runs                                  474
.506 (4th)                         Slugging %                       .625
497 (4th)                           Hits                                    573
19 (4th)                             Triples                                22
99 (6th)                             Doubles                             117
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies recently wrapped up a four-game road swing in Phoenix, Ariz. that saw the team go 2-2 before returning home after taking down Arizona State and then dropping a conference series 2-1 to Grand Canyon.
 
New Mexico State began the four-game road swing in the Grand Canyon State taking on Arizona State at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Wednesday night. Despite a three-run outburst from the Sun Devils in the seventh, the Aggies held on to a one-run lead and took down ASU 8-7.
 
This was NM State's first win over ASU since 2002 and first ever win over the Sun Devils in Phoenix. At night's end, the Aggies tallied 11 hits and were led by Joey Ortiz who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Perea got the win after throwing two scoreless frames and Whittlesey earned his sixth save of the season.
 
The team then opened game of a crucial three game weekend series against Western Athletic Conference foe Grand Canyon on Friday night. After scoring in the first three innings, the Lopes finished the night with runs in six of the eight frames to put the Aggies in a hole they could not get out of and they lost game one, 13-3.
 
NM State then looked to bounce back in game two against Grand Canyon on Saturday at Brazell Field. Following a run-rule loss in the series opener, the Aggies returned the favor with a 13-1 victory over the Lopes in seven innings to knot the series up at 1-1.
 
The NM State offense combined for 15 hits and saw five Aggies record multiple base knocks. Groff (7-2) got the win after tossing his second complete game of the season going 7.0 innings, allowing just one run and striking out four.
 
The in the rubber match against GCU, the Lopes put up runs in five separate innings and the Aggies could not mount a comeback falling in the series finale, 8-4. After dropping the series to GCU, NM State snaps a road series win streak of eight dating back to 2016. Grand Canyon also extends the nation's longest conference series win streak to 14, also dating back to the 2016 season.

UP NEXT
Following the rivalry match-up, the New Mexico State baseball team remains at home for a three-game weekend series against Western Athletic Conference opponent Utah Valley, May 4-6, at Presley Askew Field.